Shadowboxing

Shadowboxing (; literally "Fight with Shadow") is a 2005 Russian 4-episode sports drama movie. The film stars Denis Nikiforov, Yelena Panova, and Andrey Panin, and it was directed by Aleksey Sidorov. The title track from the music score was performed by Finnish cello rock band Apocalyptica. The film's sequel, Shadowboxing 2: Revenge, was released in Russia in 2007. Plot Artyom Kolchin, the story's protagonist, is a boxer, who has become a contender for the world boxing championship. The whole country knows him and wants him to win. In the beginning of the film, while they are both waiting at a crosswalk for the light to change, Sasha Belov asks for his autograph for his son Ivan, who is in England and is learning boxing. Artyom likes his car and Sasha says he will give it to Artyom if he wins the fight. Valiyev, a man well known in both the criminal and business worlds, takes care of Artyom and refuses to accept the fights scenario presented by the opponent's manager, according to which Artyom should lose the first fight, win a return-match; after the third fight both opponents will be famous and TV channels will fight to get permission to show the match. However, Artyom cannot fight because he has eye problems. The doctor does not want to grant him permission to fight, but he asks her very pitifully, and, unable to endure the begging, she gives him the permit.